ARGENTINA
The government has launched its Gas Plus programme, which promises to give a price guarantee for newly discovered gas. There are about 50 projects approved under the scheme, many of which correspond to non-conventional gas fields.
AUSTRALIA
Australia has 396tcf of technically recoverable shale gas resources, according to the EIA, equivalent to about 46% of US reserves.
Widespread fears about the effect of hydraulic fracturing on water supplies in Australia have led to calls for a moratorium on the practice in several states. A temporary moratorium is currently in place in eastern New South Wales.
Australia’s shale gas industry has grown in the past few years but is still far from becoming a major gas producer as high costs and a lack of infrastructure to access the far-flung assets remain hurdles to the industry.
Although there has been speculation that shale gas may rival Australia’s booming coal seam gas industry, experts say significant production is probably a decade away.
BRITAIN
The UK government backed the exploration of shale gas this month, nearly a year after it suspended domestic shale drilling activity when exploration work triggered small earthquakes near Blackpool.
After reviewing a report into the incident commissioned by Cuadrilla Resources, the company responsible for the work, the government published its own report which gave a provisional green light to shale gas fracking provided tighter rules on seismic monitoring and drilling surveys were implemented.
The energy ministry is inviting public comment on the report’s findings until the end of next month, after which it will issue its final ruling on the future of UK shale gas exploration.
BULGARIA AND ROMANIA
The Bulgarian government in January banned shale oil and gas exploration through hydraulic fracturing due to environmental concerns, following protests.
The government cancelled a shale gas exploration permit to Chevron at Novi Pazar field for which estimates showed reserves of 1tcf to 3.5tcf.
Romania’s shale gas industry is still at an early stage, and the country currently has no specific legislation in place and instead uses the same laws that apply to its conventional gas sector.
CHINA
China in January approved shale gas as an independent mining resource, a legal status that may allow more Chinese firms to develop the unconventional energy source.
Foreign companies would not be able to participate in the tenders but could partner with the winning Chinese firms.
The world’s top energy user could hold shale gas reserves of around 1275tcf, according to the EIA, exceeding those of the US.
FRANCE
The French government banned the use of hydraulic fracturing last year in the face of concerns about potential environmental damage.
As a result, it has cancelled several shale exploration licences with major energy companies, such as Total.
The EIA says France has shale gas reserves of 180tcf.
POLAND
Poland does not have any law relating specifically to shale gas, but it has launched work on a new tax on shale gas and other hydrocarbons, expected to be ready in the first half of 2012.
The country is pursuing unconventional gas to boost its energy security.
Its estimated shale reserves of 187tcf are Europe’s biggest of known unconventional gas and could feed domestic consumption for some 300 years. The government has awarded over 100 concessions to mainly foreign companies.
UNITED STATES
Shale gas drilling in the US (with reserves of 862tcf) is mostly regulated on a state-by-state basis.
The Environmental Protection Agency is currently studying fracking and its effect on drinking water, with a preliminary report expected this year. The final analysis will be released in 2014.
The Department of Interior also is updating rules for fracking on public lands. A few states do not allow fracking. New Jersey lawmakers recently agreed to a one-year ban on the practice, and New York has a moratorium in place.
Other states have implemented regulations to keep a closer eye on drilling until federal regulators weigh in. Many states, including Texas and Colorado, require at least some disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking.
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Article source: http://www.businesslive.co.za/world/int_markets/2012/04/21/fracking-all-over-the-world